An 18th-Century Twist on Spring Training: Training the Continental Army!

Daily Demos and Family-Friendly Activities During Spring Break at the Museum

PHILADELPHIA, MARCH. 9. 2018 – Just as the Philadelphia Phillies are preparing for the upcoming season at Spring Training, 240 years ago the Continental Army were training to take on the British Army after a long, harsh winter at Valley Forge.

During Spring Break from Saturday, March 24 – Sunday, April 8, 2018, the Museum of the American Revolution will offer family-friendly activities and daily demonstrations that explore what life was like for the Continental Army and its followers during that spring of 1778.

Visitors are invited to try their hand at early American crafts, trades, and skills including shoemaking, tailoring, and fencing. Kids of all ages can try on Revolutionary-inspired clothing, design a flag, decode secret messages, and practice drilling like a Revolutionary soldier in the Museum’s Patriots Gallery from 11 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Spring Break programs are free with regular Museum admission. Tickets can be purchased at www.amrevmuseum.org or by calling 215.253.6731 (children 5 and under are free). The Museum is open 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. daily.

Daily Demonstrations from 11 a.m. – Noon:

• Women at War: Learn about Revolutionary women who sewed flags, rolled cartridges, and even went to war themselves. A costumed historical interpreter will demonstrate how to roll cartridge. March 24, April 2 and 6
• If the Shoe Fits: Follow in the footsteps of an artificer who will demonstrate the process of shoe-making for the Revolutionary army. March 25, April 5 and 8
• Clothing the Army: Explore how the army uniformed thousands of troops. Put some stitches in a uniform destined for a Continental soldier. March 26
• Camp Followers: Learn how women and children took risks to accompany Revolutionary armies as camp followers. If you decided to pack up your household to follow the army, what items would you leave behind? Test how many “essentials” women could carry in their knapsacks and market wallets during their wartime travels. March 27 and April 1
• Forged in Philadelphia: Witness the skills that went into making a Revolutionary firearm. Visitors can take a closer look at a reproduction weapon and learn about a blacksmith business. March 28, April 4 and 7
• The Art of Fencing: Learn basic fencing skills that were used in Revolutionary-era times. Learn about two fencers who would have lived in the neighborhood during the early Republic. March 29 and April 3
• All Dressed Up: Gownmaking in Revolutionary Philadelphia: Experience how women in Revolutionary Philadelphia ordered custom gowns, made to fit. Jana Violante, dressmaker and living history interpreter, will demonstrate and discuss gown-making techniques (11 a.m. – 4 p.m., Oneida Indian Nation Atrium). March 30 and 31

At an archaeological conservation station on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 1 – 3 p.m. in Patriots Gallery, visitors can get a closer look at objects from archaeological excavation of the Museum’s site prior to construction of the building. The nearly 85,000 artifacts uncovered during that excavation provide a rare opportunity to examine the things left behind by the people who lived and worked there.

About the Museum of the American Revolution
The Museum of the American Revolution explores the dynamic story of the American Revolution using its rich collection of Revolutionary-era weapons, personal items, letters, diaries, and works of art. Immersive galleries, theater experiences, and recreated historical environments bring to life the events, people, and ideals of our nation’s founding and engage people in the history and continuing relevance of the American Revolution. Located just steps away from Independence Hall, Carpenters’ Hall, and Franklin Court, the Museum serves as a portal to the region’s many Revolutionary sites, sparking interest, providing context, and encouraging exploration. The Museum is a private, non-profit, and non-partisan organization. For more information, visit www.AmRevMuseum.org or call 877.740.1776.